Manicuring instrument



Oct. 8, 1929.

F. J. WACHOWSKI.

mxcunme m'rmmzm Filed June 174, 1927 mwz MM m EW. m WN A Z w I m Y B w Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNHTED s'rATEs FBANCISZEK JZEF WACZ-IOWSKI, OF NEW YORK, Y.

MANICURING Application filed June 17,

This invention relates to manicuring instruments and particularly to cut-icle cutters and has for its principal object to provide a new and improved construction for a cuticle cutter 'of marked simplicity and therefore low manufacturing costs.

Another object is to so construct an instrument of the Character above set forth that it will be impossible in the use thereof to inflict a wound.

A further object is to so construct the instrument that it may be used with equal facility by the user for cutting the nails of either hand of such user or by a manicure for Cutting the nails of either hand of the person whose nails are being manicured, and in addition, may also be used with equal facility for Cutting nails of all widths, shapes and sizes.

A further object is to so construct the instrument that no matter what position in which. it may be held, the cuts made are perfectly rounded and of any desired radius, and which, in addition, is capable of making cuts i of any desired depth or thickness.

Another object is to construot the instrument that in the use thereof, the movement of the knives in performing a cut will also produce a sharpening effect upon the Cutting 'i edges of the lnives.

Another object of the invention is to so eonstruct the instrument that the sharp cutting edges of the movable blades are guarded or protected by the other parts of the instrument, both when the blades are in open and, in closed position, so that it is praotically impossible for one to cut onelsself accidentallv in handling or using' the instrument.

These and other objects will appear more :40 fully'from the following more detailed description and by reference to t-he accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a cuticle cutter, constructed in aocordance with the principles of my invention and showing the cutter with the blades thereof in open or inoperative position; Fig. 2 is a'central longitudinal section showing the cutter blades in closed or Cutting position; Fig. 3 is a top` or plan View of the cutter ass-hown in Fig.

ism with the top 14 and serve to provide a 1e27. serial No. 199,457.

1; F ig. 4; is a plan view of the cutter as shown in Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the front end of the cutter as seen from the left side of F ig. 8; Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 7 is a plan'or development on a slightly smaller scale of the blank from which the cutter,in a preferrcd constructional example, is construeted. e

As indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawing', the V main'body of the instrument in its preferred constructional form is made from a single piece of spring steel, preferably stamped or punched to the configuration shown in Fig. 7.

As shown in Figs. 1 to l, this main body consists of a straight blade-like portion 10, having at the inner end thereof a transverse, substantially right angled bend 11, which merges with a bottom 12. Along each side of the bottom'12, the blank is bent upwardly to provide a pair of side flanges 18. The Vbottom 12 is connected to the top` 14 by a narrow Vstrip 15, which Vis bent to form a spring section and to bring the top 14 to a position in spaced Vertical alignment with the bottomV 12. Along each side of the top 14 the blankis widened to provide a pair of side fianges 1G, which are bent downwardly at right angles to the top, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing. At their outer ends the flanges 16 are provided with the projecting ears or tabs 17, which tabs are bent at right anglesto the fianges 1G and in parallelpair of stops, the purpose of which will presently be more fully described.

'-Between the ends thereof, the side flanges 16 are provided'with elongated slots 18, through which the bolts 19 are adapted to pass. Said bolts 19 are employed for securing to the instrument a pair of knives 20. As shown, the bolts 19 are provided with nuts 21 for clamping the knives securely in adjusted position to the side flanges of the main body of the instrument. The provision of an enlarged threaded boss upon the knives 20 into which the bolts 19 would screw direetly would, however, be the equivalent of the bolts and nuts shown.

As clearly shown in Figs. 3, 4-. and 5 of the drawing, the knives 20 are straight for the major portion of their length, but at their outer ends are Curved as at 20a, the Curvature being substantially that 'of an are of a circuit. The straight portions of the knives 20, substantially midway between the ends thereof, are provided with a widened portion, the lower edge 20b of which is parallel with the upper edge 20c of said knives. This widened portion is adapted to fit snugly between the. top 111 and the tabs or stops 17, so that relative movement between the knives and the top, about the bolts 19 as a pivot, is prevented.

The bottom edge of the outer Curved portions 20c of the lrnives is sharpened to provide a keen Cutting` edge whichis adapted tocooperate with the Curved outer end a of the lower flat blade 10. The curvature of the outer ends of the knives is such that the Cutting edoes thereof will normally be located in the position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, with said Cutting edges lying entirely within the side edges of the outer Curved end of the blade 10. The side edges of the lower blade 10 taper inwardly from the outer Curved end 103M of said blade, as indicated by the reference Character 10b in Fig. L1 of the drawings, and said lower blade is provided at the center of the outer Curved end thereof with a reentrant groove or recess 10, which may be of any shape whatsoever, but which is shown in the drawings as of substantially semi-circular configuration. The function of the reoess 10 is to dividethe outer Curved Cutting edge of the blade 10 into what in effect forms a. 'pair' of similar 'Cutting edges, each side or member of said pair of edges Co-operating with a knife 20.

As will be seen from Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawing, when the blank which forms thev Vbending the b'laul; to its final form, the

amount of curvature given to the curved spring 16 will be such that said spring will hold the instrument in its fully open position with the lower face of the inner end of the blade' 10 in engagement with the stops 17. In assembling the instrument the knives 20 are placed within the handle portion formed by the top let and side fiang-es 16 with the widened central portion of the knives snugly received between the stops 17 and 4the top 111. The bolts 19 are then placed through the holes 18 and the holes, which it will be understood are provided at the inner ends of said knives and the nuts 21, are screwed on the bolts to elamp the knives against the side fianges 16. lNhen the parts are so assembled the width of the blade 10 at its inner end, adjacent to the bend 11, is such that it will fit between the inner side faces of the pair of lrnives 20 with a neat sliding fit.

The manner in which the instrument operates is as follows: Assuming the instrument to be in the open position shown in Fig. 1, one side of the Curved outer edge of the blade 10 is inserted under the Cuticle to be cut, with the point formed at the end of the recess 10c under the cuticle. The top and bottom 111 are then squeezed together against the action of the spring 18. As the parts move towards each oth r, the inner side faces of the knives 20 slide downwardly in contaCt-ing engagement with the tapered side edges 10b of the flat blade 10, and as the knives approach their Cutting position, the gradual widening of the lower fiat blade 10 towards the outer curved end thereof, causes the knives 20 to be moved outwardly against their inherent resiliency, with the result that when the final closed position of the instrument is reached, the Curved outer ends of the knives 20 lie entirely upon the outer side of the Curved outer end of the blade 10, as shown in Fig. 4:.

As shown most clearly in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing, the lower blade 10 and the cutting edges of the knives 20 extend at an angle to each other, and as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, the curvature of the outer curved end of the blade 10 is slightly different from that of the outer curved ends of the blades 20, so that as the Cutting knives and blade crosseach other a point contact, and an effecting Cutting action, of the Cutting blades is at all time assured.

It will be seen by referring to Fig. 2 that the upper end of the bend 11 forms a stop which limits the eXtent of closing movelnent of the instrument, and thereby prevents the Cutting edges of the knives from projec-ting below the plane of the bottom 12. Consoquently, there is no danger of the user receiving an acoidental wound from the knives 20 when the instrument is pressed to perform a Cutting action.

The lower blade 10, it will be noted, has the lower side thereof adjacent to the efi`ect-ing Curved Cutting edges, tapered to provide a sharp Cutting blade and to facilitate the insertion of the flat .blade under the -cuticle The depth or thickness of the Cut made is regulated by the distance to which the blade end is inserted under the Cuticle. Cuts of any desired depth can therefore be made.

It will be'understood that in making the cut on one side of the nail', only one of the Cutting knives 20 will be employed, while in cutting the other side of the nail, the otherknife 20 is used for Cutting. VVliile the instrument is so designed that when, for example, it is held in the right hand of the user for Cutting the nails of the left hand, the knife 19 shown at the upper' side of Fig. lwould naturally be employed for Cutting the Cuticle at the lefthand sides of the nails of the left hand, and the lower blaee 20 for Cutting the Cuticle at the right hand sides of said nails. The instrument may, however, bo used so that either blade 20 may be en'iployed for Cutting the Cuticle on either side of the nail.

Due to the faet that the construction is such as to insure only a point Contact of each knife and blade 10 as they Cross each other and to the fact that the inclination of the Cutting edges of the blades 20 to the fiat blade 10 Causes What may be terined a wiping action of the two steel Cutting members, a sharponing' operation, similar to that of the wiping of a ltnife across a sharpening' steel, is eifeeted, thereby rendering' the instrument self sharpening in the ordinary use thereof.

The blades 20 are preferably made adjustable longitudinally by the provision of the elongated slot 18, so that Compensa'tion may be made for any Wearing away of the blade 10. Due to this self sharpening action, adjustment of the knives 20 may be readily effected, so as to insure effective Cutting Contact thereof with the blade 10, by loosening the bolts 18 and moving the blades to the required amount.

Vhile I have described the instrument as a cuticle Cutter and have described its use for Cutting the Cuticle of the nails, it Will be understood that the instrument is not limited to this particular use, but that it Can be used for other purposes, such as Cutting Corns, Calluses or the like, and for surgical purposes.

It Will also be understood that while I have described and illustrated the instrument as Constructed entirely of sheet metal with the main body7 or handle portion thereof made from a single piece of metal, stamped or pressed to the desired shape, the principles of the invention are not limited to such Constructional details.v as it Will bo obvious that for example the handle portion of the instrnment might be made of any suitable more or less ornamental material and of any suitable shape or design. Likewise it Will be understood that although the knives 20 are shown as extending' and, movable perpendicularly, to the blade 10, they Could be set to move at an inclination to the blade 10 as long as their paths of movement where substantially transverse to said blade.

I claim:

1. An instrument of the Character deseribed Coniprising' a flatshearing blade having an outivardly Curved shearing edge at the outer end thereof, and a Curved shearing knife mounted for movement transversely along the Curved outer shearing edge of said blade. 2. An instrument of the Character described Comprising a fiat shearing blade having an outivardly Curved shearing edge at the outer end thereof, and a pair of Curved Cutting lnives mounted for movement transversely of said blade. i

8. An instrument of the Character described comprising a flat shearing blade 'having a Curved shearing edge and a recess located substanti'ally Centrally of said edge to divide it ;into a pair of separated shearing portions and a pair of shearing knives mounted for movement transversely along the Curved outer shearing edge of said blade in Co-operative Contaeting engagement With said pair of shearing port-ions. i

4. An instrument as set forth in Claim 1, in which the shearing edges of said blade and knife extcnd at an angle to each other for insuring a point shearing ContactV thereof With a vviping action as said blade and knife are moved relatively to each other to perform a Cut.

5` An instrument of the Character set forth eomprising a flat shearing blade having an outvvardly Curved shearing edge at the Vouter end thereof, a pair of Curved shearing knives, mounted for movement transversely of said blade, an d a spring for holding said blade and hnives normally'in opened inoperative relationship.

6. An instrumentas set forth inclaim 5, in which said knives are of resilient material and are Constructed and arranged to be normally with their shearing edges located inwardly of the perimeter of said blade Whereby said blade acts as a guard for said knives.

7. An instrument as set forth in Claim 5, in which means are provided'for limiting the eXtent of the opening and closing movement of said blade and knives. i

8.` An instrument of the Character deseribed, Comprising a handle, a flat blade l'iaving a Curved shearing edge and a pair of Curved shearing kuives carried by said handle, said knives and blade being m-ounted in planos oxteniiling substantially at right angles and being movable relatively to each other to perform a shearing stroke, a spring for normally holding' said blade and hnives in inoperative opened position, said hnives being of resilient material and located normally With their shearing Cdges inwardly of and guarded by the side Cdg'es of and said blade l'iaving its side ed es tapered to cause said knives gradually to be moved outwardly as they are moved to perform a Cutting stroke, the resiliency of said knives forcing' the Cutting edges thereof against the Curved shearing edge of said blade as the shearing stroke is performed.

9. An instrument of the Character described, Coinprising a handle, a flat shearing blade carried thereby, said blade having asaid blade, V

curved outer extremity sharpened to provide a shearing edge, a pair of Cutting hnives constructed 'of spring metal carried by said handle and mounted one at each side of said shearing blade for movement transversely of said blade, each of said knives having a curved shearing portion adapted to engage resiliently With the Curved shearing edge of said blade when said instrument is actuated A to perform a shearing stroke.

10. An instrument as set forth in claim 9, in which said Curved portions of the shearing knives are n-orma'lly caused to be, by the resiliency of said knives Within the side edges of the blade When said instrument is in opened position and the side edges of the blade are tapered to cause the knives to be gradually moved outwardly as the instrument is closed to perform a shearing strolze, thereby bringing` the shearing edges of said lniives into contact with the shearing edge of said blade With a resilient pressure.

11. An instrument as set f'orth in claim 9, in which means are provided for adjusting the relative shearing positions of the blade and knives.

12. An instrument as set forth in claim 9, inwhich the co-operating shearing edges of the knives and the blade extend at an angle to each other thereby to insure a point shearing contact and a Wiping action of the knives With a spring pressure due to the resiliency of the Curved knives t'o effect a self-sharpening as a shearing stroke is performed.

13. An instrument as set forth in claim 9, in which the blade is provided, centrally of its Curved outer extremity With a reeess to provide a pair of separated shearing points at the end of said blade.

14. An instrument as set forth in claim 9, in vhich the shearing edges of the knives are normally located Within the side edges of the blade when the instrument is in opened inoperative position, Whereby said blade forms a protective `guard for said knives, a stop is provided for limiting the closing movement of the instrument and the handle has a portion thereof projecting below said blade to form a guard relatively to which the closing movement of said knives is limited to stop.

In testiniony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

FRANCSZEK JZEF WACHW KI. 

